These days, we are always connected. Phones, computers, GPS etc. serve to keep services at our fingertips and to make our whereabouts known. So it can be worrisome to know you will be going somewhere you are not connected. This is where a satellite phone comes in.

When you are in areas where you have no reception a satellite phone will keep you connected. Whether you are a new parent who wants to keep in touch while on a trip, or you are surveying for work and need to send information, or you simply want the peace of mind of knowing you can reach emergency services if you need them, a satellite phone will be exactly what you need.

There are several satellite phone options available, but today we will be looking at Globalstar’s GSP-1700.

The GSP-1700 is a compact satellite phone that works in much the same way as any cell phone (though they are more comparable to older, non-smartphones). To use the GSP-1700, follow these steps:

• Make sure you can see the sky. The GSP-1700 needs a clear view of the sky to connect to a satellite.
• Rotate and extend the antenna by bringing it up from the side and pulling the inside piece out.
  

  Image from QUALCOMM Globalstar GSP-1700 Phone User Manual

• Turn the phone on by pressing and holding the red phone/power button (arrow 1 on the image below).
• Confirm that the phone has found a satellite. This can be seen by the bars in the top left-hand corner of the screen, much like the bars on your cell phone (arrow 2 on the image below).
• Confirm the phone has connected to the satellite. The phone is ready to make a call when the red house icon has appeared (arrow 3 on the image below).
  

  Image from “GSP-1700 Satellite Phone (Copper)” http://ca.globalstar.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=39

   

• To make a local call simply enter the area code followed by the phone number and press the green phone/OK button (arrow 4 on the image above).
  • To make a long-distance call enter 1 followed by the phone number.
  • To make an international call press and hold the 0 (zero) button until the plus sign (+) appears on the screen (arrow 5 on the image above; the plus sign takes the place of the international access code), then enter the country code followed by the phone number.

 

OTHER INFORMATION:

• Quirks of the GSP-1700
  • When placing a phone call, there will be a short burst of static before it begins ringing; there is nothing wrong, this is simply something this model does.
  • Do not turn the GSP-1700 on inside a building; it will not be able to establish a connection and you will have to restart it.
  • Do not make a call before the red house icon appears–this keeps the phone from connecting properly and you will have to restart it.
    • The bars in the top left-hand corner simply mean that the phone has found a satellite, while the red house icon means that it has connected to the satellite and is able to make a call.
• What Happens When You Dial 911
  • The call does not go to a 911 call centre; instead it goes to the GEOS Search and Rescue call centre and from there they contact local emergency services. GEOS will even contact your family and continually update them on your situation.
• Globalstar Satellite Phone Coverage
  • Globalstar devices can, depending on the plan they are on, be used almost anywhere in the world (Coverage Map – Voice/Duplex Data/Sat-Fi, n.d.); our Globalstar phone rentals, however, are only available for use in Canada. (This means that our Globalstars come with minutes included in the rental price, instead of at an extra charger per minute.)
• Battery Life
  • The GSP-1700 battery will last up to three weeks when the phone is off. Otherwise it has 36 hours of standby, or four hours of talk time (GSP-1700 Satellite Phone, n.d.).
• Receiving a Call
  • While Globalstar satellite phones do come with a voicemail option, for ease of switching between renters our GSP-1700 rentals do not have this feature activated. Because of this, the phone has to be on to receive a call; it will not alert you if you have received a call while the phone is off.
  • If you are expecting to receive calls, we recommend you have specific times set when you will have the phone on and connected.
• Sending and Receiving Texts
  • The GSP-1700 cannot send texts, but it can receive and store them.
  • To send a text message to a GSP-1700, go to ca.globalstar.com/en/index.php?cid=5510.
    • Once there, enter the phone number of the GSP-1700 in the appropriate field, add your message and hit “send message.” (This text message is free.)